General News
12 September, 2026
Days of risky crossings over
THE days of nippers running the gauntlet crossing the dangerous Captain Cook Highway at Ellis Beach are over with the new $5 million surf club finally up and running.
The club was opened last weekend after years of lobbying.
Mayor Amy Eden said in 2011, nine-year-old Ellis Beach nipper Sophie Alcorn wrote to then-Federal Member for Leichhardt Warren Entsch after her friend Asha was hit by a car while the girls were crossing the Captain Cook Highway.
Mr Entsch took Sophie’s letter to Federal Parliament.
“That incident started a push that would last more than a decade: move Ellis Beach Surf Life Saving Club to the beach side of the highway so kids no longer had to cross it just to get to the water,” Cr Eden said.
“What followed is grassroots advocacy at its best. Club members kept pushing, planning, fundraising and making the case.
“Warren helped secure $3.5 million from the Australian Government, the Queensland Government committed another $1.5 million and the club kept working to get the project over the line.”
Deputy Mayor and Division 9 councillor Brett olds said “so many people (and organisations) told us back in the day that we’d never be able to get this built but perseverance, positive attitudes and strong focus has finally got us here”.
A club Facebook post said “it was so wonderful to see the clubhouse filled with so many smiling faces – from our incredible life members and past members, to our new members and families, along with SLSQ representatives, local dignitaries and politicians who came along to celebrate this very special milestone with us”.
“After so many years of planning, hard work and fundraising, it was incredibly special to finally open the doors and celebrate together,” it said.
